Prominent leaders in the North West on Wednesday gave a green signal to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, urging him to put forward his candidacy for the post of national chairman of the ruling party.

“We are enthusiastically encouraging Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to run again as chairman. It is for the good of the party” the leaders said.

They also predicted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would meet a contest of its life in 2019 as it would suffer a humiliating electoral defeat in February and March.

At a meeting in Sokoto, the leaders argued that Oyegun had achieved a lot and deserved a second term.

“Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has capacity to lead the APC into election in 2019”

They described the John Odigie-Oyegun led National Working Committee (NWC) as highly successful.

“The success of the ruling party did not only rest on his ideas but on his person, his charisma, supervision, initiative and vision.”

The leaders who are poised to reward the former Edo State governor with another term, heaped praise on Oyegun for consolidating the gains of the ruling party; getting progressives back to basics and changing the character of the country’s politics.

“Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has become the standard yardstick to measure performance in party administration. He deserves to continue to lead the ruling party.”

Meeting under the auspices of the APC United Front, the leaders called critics of the national chairman ‘brash’ and ‘narrow-minded.’

“They are playing cheap politics. Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is a rare Nigerian and a shining example of how to serve the people. He has discharged himself very well.”

Leader of APC United Front, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa in a statement said the northern political leaders called on delegates and party members nationwide to give Oyegun a second term to enable him to continue to offer open and fair competition, positive relationship, support for the grassroots and stability.

“We are asking APC members in the North-East, North-Central, South-East, South-West and South-South to support Oyegun” the leaders said.

They hailed Oyegun as a great leader, lauding him for building the party in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, ensuring the elections of progressives and doing the right thing for the ruling party.

The leaders who are happy with the performance of the chairman of the ruling party said, “Oyegun is a chairman with a record of party service, growth and positive encouragement”

“We want Oyegun to help raise money and elect candidates in 2019. Anyone who runs against the current national chairman is going to be in for a rude awakening” the leaders added.